Noida twin towers: Residents of two societies to be evacuated during demolition

PTI, Jul 28, 2022, 3:16 PM IST

PTI Photo

Noida: Around 5,000 people living in 1,396 flats of two societies here will be moved to safer locations during the demolition of Supertech’s illegal twin towers — measuring almost 100 metres each — on August 21, according to the evacuation plan.

A meeting of the Noida Authority, police and other stakeholders was held here on Wednesday to discuss the evacuation plan and security details, with officials saying a full dress rehearsal for the demolition would be held on August 14.

Supertech’s twin towers Apex and Ceyane are located in Noida’s Sector 93A and are scheduled for demolition at 2.30 pm on August 21. This comes in pursuance of a Supreme Court order last August which noted that the structures had come up in violation of building norms. An official privy to Wednesday’s meeting said, “There are Emerald Court and ATS Village societies adjoining the twin towers which will have the biggest impact. These societies together have 1,396 flats and around 5,000 residents, all of whom will have to be taken to a safer location well before the demolition.” “A red zone or exclusion zone has also been created on the premises of the twin towers to restrict movement of any person. The restrictions will remain in place for five hours – three hours before and two hours after the blast,” the official said.

The exclusion zone on one side has a radius of 250 metres covering the two residential societies and during the time frame, vehicular traffic on nearby local roads and Noida-Greater Noida Expressway will also remain halted, the official said.

On the front side of the twin towers, the exclusion zone goes up to 450 metres and includes a community park, a local road, the official said.

The official added that agencies involved in the demolition are in the process of seeking permission from the Centre to get the site as a no-fly zone during the time of the blast on August 21.

A senior Noida Authority official said they will have one more meeting soon to further finalise the security details and RWAs of both societies will also be consulted for their feedback or suggestions on the evacuation.

The Noida Authority has asked the police to provide a NOC for the blast and a final deployment plan regarding the number of officials required and the duties. “This is to ensure that the officials who will be deployed for work can be trained briefly before the charging (filling of explosives) of the building starts on July 2,” the second official said.

“From August 2, when the charging of the buildings begin, only 20 authorised persons would be allowed inside the twin towers premises and this includes foreign experts engaged by demolition firm Edifice Engineering for the job,” the official added.

The developer has also agreed to carry out minor repair works at Emerald Court before the blast to reinforce the building, according to sources.

The Noida Authority has several meetings lined up in the coming days including those with the National Disaster Response Force, Fire Safety Department, police and RWAs as the date for demolition draws closer.